homilies

In last week’s Gospel, we heard how Jesus came walking on the water towards his disciples in the boat being tossed around by the waves. From the very beginning, the image of the boat has been used to represent the Church, with St. Peter at its helm and assisted by the disciples. With that image in mind, today’s readings focus us on who else belongs in the boat with the disciples.

I sometimes wonder how many believers resemble St. Peter—how, despite the fact that his boat was being tossed about by the waves and the wind was against him, he saw the Lord and boldly asks if he too may be given the grace to walk in the Lord’s footsteps, even if those footsteps are on water. But, St. Peter, often impetuous, as the Gospels portray him, the minute his foot touched the water, became all the more aware of his own humanity, his own shortcomings. He knew that men do not walk on…

There is one ultimate source of rationality and order in the universe, and that source is God. With God, everything and everyone has purpose. Without God, we loose sight of purpose. Without God, we begin to imagine a world a bumping particles, chance encounters, and pure serendipity. Such a worldview appears chaotic, hostile, and devoid of meaning. But, God has a plan. And as believers we know deep in our heart that God has a plan for us. God desires to draw us close to himself, to renew the…

God has a plan for your life. As I was meditating on today’s Scriptures, I began focusing on a word St. Paul uses in his letter to the Romans. He says, “For those [God] foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son….” The topic of predestination is one I have discussed frequently with my uncle Rich, usually over dinner at places like the Texas Roadhouse. Yes, somewhere in the midst of chupacabra’s and Cotten-Eye Joe blasting on the loudspeakers, we would be sitting there…